In 2006 EBC published a Consensus Document on European Brain Research, describing needs and achievements of research in Europe and presenting proposals for future research programs. The document underwent a major revision in 2011 and another one in 2015. The present document represents an update elaborated to reflect changes in research priorities and advances in brain research that have taken place since 2006.

“Cost of disorders of the brain in Europe 2010” is the direct successor of a benchmark study of the same title published in 2005. The success of the 2005 study, in alerting European politicians and policy makers to the prevalence and high cost of brain diseases as well as the low levels of associated research funding, demanded the publication of a follow-up report. Both studies were commissioned by the European Brain Council (EBC), a co-ordinating body consisting of numerous organizations in neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry and basic brain research (neuroscience) as well as patient groups and industrial partners.

The economic cost of brain disorders in Europe 2010 builds up on the findings from the ‘Cost of disorders of the brain in Europe 2005’ and presents updated, more accurate, and comprehensive 2010 estimates for 30 European countries. The cost model reveals that brain disorders overall are much more costly than previously estimated constituting a major health economic challenge for Europe.

The size and burden of mental disorders and other disorders of the brain in Europe 2010

A major landmark study released on the 5th September 2011 by the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) sheds new light on the state of Europe’s mental and neurological health. The study finds reveal that mental disorders have become Europe’s largest health challenge in the 21st century. The study also highlights that the majority of mental disorders remain untreated. Taken together with the large and increasing number of ‘disorders of the brain’, the true size and burden is even significantly higher.

This study is part of the broader investigation by the European Brain Council (EBC) of the cost of non-treatment of brain disorders in Europe. By providing an extensive review of the case for schizophrenia, it sheds light on the crucial issues to be looked at and provides for a robust methodology that can be translated to the other conditions to be considered in EBC’s broader study.

After a successful launch of the Cost of Disorders of the Brain in Europe 2010 EBC encourages countries participating in the European study to write country specific papers. In order to facilitate the writing of one paper per country EBC extrapolated the necessary figures and tables for each of the 30 participating European countries. They can be used together with other relevant material and literature concerning the country in question in a country specific paper to be published in a national journal in the national language.

If you would like to get involved in preparing country specific paper for your country please contact Tadeusz Hawrot, who is in charge of the administration of this project.

The EBC has worked with Stockholm Health Economics to review the current level of resource allocation to brain research in the EU. Partly funded by the EC, RABRE sought to build on the EBC’s previous finding that brain diseases represent 35% of the burden of all diseases in Europe. RABRE analysed both private and public funding of brain research in Europe, and funding sources were categorised according to both function and disease target.

October 2011 to October 2013:
2012 marked the tenth anniversary of the European Brain Council. The anniversary closed an exciting and significant first decade for the European Brain Council and opened the next phase of its journey towards the full appreciation of our most vital and precious asset which is our brain. Read more…

October 2010 to October 2011:
The Consensus document was published in March 2011 in the European Journal of Neuroscience following collaboration with several hundred scientists across Europe. It was extremely well received by the European Commission and a range of other stakeholders. The document will be instrumental in helping set the framework for the remainder of FP7 and FP8. Read more…

October 2009 to 2010:
Over the last 5 months it has been my privilege to be Interim Executive Director of the European Brain Council. I have spent 3 days a week pursuing two main aims, firstly leading the EBC executive function, working with the officers of EBC on EBC strategy and our operational capability. Secondly by leading efforts with board members to achieve the goal of making 2013 ‘The European Year Of the Brain (EYOB)’. Read more…

October 2008 to October 2009:
In December 2008 three applications in which EBC is a partner were submitted for funding in the 3rd call of Framework 7, one of which was successful. The CUBE application was the highest ranked of those submitted but it did not meet the threshold for funding. We are instead pursuing an update and expansion of the existing Cost Document and have applied to Lundbeck for 850.000 Euros for this study. Read more…

October 2007 to October 2008:
In November 2007, the third Call of FP7 was under preparation. Jes Olesen and Mary Baker, President of EFNA, met with Commissioner Potocnik, EU Commissioner for Research, to express concerns about the support for brain research in FP7. Read more…

October 2006 to October 2007:
The results of the RABRE study (research Allocation for Brain Research in Europe) were accepted for publication in the EJN. At the September 2006 General Assembly the AEP – Association of European Psychiatrists joined EBC as an official member. In order to make sure that our work is in line with the EC and EP policy, a network meeting with delegates of various DGs and the EP was organised. These planning meetings will be organised twice a year. Read more…

October 2005 to October 2006:
In October 2005 the second meeting of EBC’s Industrial Partners was held. On this occasion the delegates elected their representative on the EBC B oard. Dr. A. Benbow, GSK, was elected and accepted to take on a second term of office. Dr. A. Sleight, Roche, accepted to act as Dr. Benbow’s alternate. It will be the industrial representative’s task to inform the members of the industrial board on the ongoing activities of the EBC so that a major input from the delegates and sponsors becomes possible. Read more…

October 2004 to October 2005:
In January 2005 EBC held the first meeting with its Industrial Partners. The meeting was very well attended and delegates from major industries were welcomed to the event. A follow-up meeting to this event will be organised “by the industry for the industry” by EBC’s industrial delegates. This follow-up meeting has been scheduled for October 2005. Read more…

October 2003 to October 2004:
An enormous amount of work has been done over the past year during which EBC consolidated its relationship with the EC and with DG Research in particular. In September 2003, EBC together with the EC organised the one-day conference “Brain Research in Europe: Structuring European Neuroscience”. The conference was a great success and on that occasion, EBC proposed a separate programme on brain research within the 7th Framework Programme. Read more…

6. Position Papers

EBC position on animal research in neuroscience (2017)

Though recognizing the limits of animal research, animal models often provide unique insights in the functioning of the human nervous system. Fully stopping animal research would therefore harm the efforts of neuroscientists to develop medicines for people living with brain disorders. The EBC thus supports Directive 2010/63/EU that provides a robust and solid framework for animal research.

EBC contribution to the Green Paper: from challenges to opportunities, towards a common strategic framework for EU Research and Innovation funding

There are many potential benefits from the incorporation of the various EU research and innovation funding initiatives into a single programme. EBC believes that the establishment of the framework would help to ensure that the EU supports high quality research across its Member States, of which Brain disorders plays a major part, but that there should be Green Paper – “From Challenges to Opportunities: Towards a Common Strategic Framework for EU Research and Innovation Funding” greater clarity regarding the prioritisation of the research agenda, which should reflect the needs of society and the citizens from across all of Europe and its’ changing demographics.

EBC Position Paper on its relationship with its member organisations and National Brain Councils

When the European Brain Council was being formed, one of the primary concerns was how such an organisation would maintain its focus and governing principles. As a coalition of other organisations with their own membership, rules and objectives, there were several issues to be considered. The first of these was to decide which of the many European organisations whose aims are compatible with those of the EBC should become members.

The 2008 data from the European Commission showed that 34 million fake medicines were found by European customs authorities in just 8 weeks during 2008. This demonstrates the explosion in counterfeiting when compared to the 2.7 million fake medicines seized during 2006. The European Brain Council believes that counterfeit and substandard medicines represent a serious threat to European Public health and that action is needed to ensure that the legitimate supply chain is secure.

EBC position paper on the protection and use of animals in research (2008)

The EBC has followed closely the revision of the Directive 86/609 and, in particular, the European Parliament’s Written Declaration requesting an immediate ban on the use of great apes and wild caught monkeys as well as a timetable for the phasing out of all use of non-human primates. The EBC approves of well-considered efforts to implement the reduction, refinement and replacement (3Rs) of animals in biomedical research in general, and to develop scientifically-based alternatives that have the potential to provide alternative or superior information to that obtained from animals.

Report: The 3rd European Brain Policy forum, entitled “A Focus on Persons with Schizophrenia and the European Society” was jointly organised by the Spanish Brain Council (SBC) and the European Brain Council (EBC) at the Instituto de Salud Carlos III in Madrid on February 23rd and 24th 2010. Read more.

EBC European Brain Policy Forum 2009Depression and the European Society

Report: The first of a series of annual, multidisciplinary forums launched by the European Brain Council (EBC) to bring stakeholders together to discuss a major brain disease took Parkinson’s disease (PD) as its theme. The goal of the forum was to highlight the imbalance between the societal and individual costs of brain disease, and the resources allocated to dealing with the problem, and to help build a coordinated European research strategy to tackle it better in future. Each forum will open with an analysis of the burden and cost of the disease in question, and will then allow patients, policymakers, scientists, doctors and industry representatives—all those with a stake in disease-related research—to have their say. Read more.